Believe it or not, there are a number of structures taller even than the infamous Burj Dubai. The tallest structure in the world, however, is an unusual candidate that reaches more than twice as far down into the ocean as said tallest skyscraper reaches into the sky. The Ursa tension-leg platform is an oil-production facility that is tethered to the ocean floor and is in many ways a surprising reverse of what most people imagine when they think of the world’s tallest structures.
[above: Images of and around the world's tallest structure via SmugMug]
Radio towers and mine shafts have in many cases exceeded skyscraper heights, though of course these are supported by other means (such as secondary cables and surrounding soils). The Ursa platform is directly supported by its 4 primary tethers, though in an inverse way from how we normally understand load: the structure is held down rather than held up.
Not only is the Ursa platform the tallest structure in the world, it is also habitable: workers live day in and day out above the surface in modular attached dwelling spaces. Despite the enormity and expense of the structure, which weighs over 35 million pounds and cost 1.5 billion dollars to construct, these workers live in anything but luxurious conditions but are well-compensated for their efforts.
On a more somber note: one has to wonder what it says about our world that the tallest structure is dedicated to harvesting a non-renewable resource and can not be repurposed. Will this become another rogue micronation when it is no longer of use, or simply be left as a monument to times past when it is no longer considered to be of value?
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17 Comments
February 24th, 2008 at 3:59 am
Holy cow, that’s an intimidatingly tall platform. :/
An interesting note about disused oil platforms: some groups say that they are proving valuable as artificial reefs for marine life. Some of those that were meant to be removed are now being left in place for that reason. Weird how something so potentially harmful to the environment could actually harbor life.
February 24th, 2008 at 11:06 pm
I think you got it wrong: it’s not the tallest structure in the world, it’s “the tallest structure ever moved by mankind”. At 472 meters (see Wikipedia), it’s much shorter than the Burj Dubai (800 meters) and many other buildings. The difference is, those tall buildings were never schlepped around.
February 25th, 2008 at 2:02 am
Actually, it has a total height of 4,285 feet and holds the Guenness Book’s world record as the tallest building in the world. You’re thinking of a different oil platform I’m afraid!
February 25th, 2008 at 11:13 am
This “Tallest Structure” kind of bothers me. I was involved with the URSA TLP install over 10 years ago. Back then Shell was touting it’s “heightâ€? but in fact the tension legs are just glorified anchors. The structure uses its immense buoyancy to pull the legs tight making it a “rigidâ€? structure. It’s more of a floating ship than a standing building. To me it’s the same as the big island of Hawaii being the tallest mountain if measured from the seafloor or if you live in a 20 story building do you include the 4 floors of underground parking?
May 24th, 2008 at 12:29 pm
Thank you for your site. I have found here much useful information…
September 20th, 2008 at 5:45 pm
Have another look, Girassol in Angola is 1350m (4429′) plus the height of the FPSO and its flare boom! (varies according to full of product or empty)
There are dozens of lesser structures that would dwarf anything on land, with or without underground car parking, remember, these structures don’t include the pilings or even wells that go underground (under seabed) either, else you’re looking at miles!!
January 12th, 2009 at 12:14 am
Wow i never concidered water based structured I always thought land.
Like the Burj Dubai at 818 meters tall.
January 24th, 2009 at 11:00 am
Whoa! I read about the Ursa from Guinness Book 2009. It didn’t provide me with any information other than the height and location.
I was not convinced until I read from this amazing site. It’s packed with information and provides valuable insight!
March 11th, 2009 at 12:44 pm
This is shorter than the Burj Dubai you idiot. Its shorter than the tallest oil rig even: the petronius and magnolia platforms are taller, but burj dubai beats them even. FRAUD
April 1st, 2009 at 4:21 am
im not sure if its this rig but theres a picture of a rig (might be oil rig) standing next to the eiffel tower and it justs towers over the eiffel tower makes the tower look like a baby structure
April 10th, 2009 at 12:47 pm
Woops, silly me. I checked on skyscraperpage.com and found out you were true. the original post:
Aaron M
March 11th, 2009 at 12:44 pm
This is shorter than the Burj Dubai you idiot. Its shorter than the tallest oil rig even: the petronius and magnolia platforms are taller, but burj dubai beats them even. FRAUD
All of you below are wrong. This IS the tallest thing built
April 10th, 2009 at 12:51 pm
Whoopdee doo i was wrong above. The REAL holder is the 8,000 feet tall Perdido Regional Host Development off the coast of Texas.
April 24th, 2009 at 11:05 pm
Why this tirade against ‘Burj Dubai’ concealing an ‘Anti-Islamic Terrorist’ heart and blaming every achievement by ‘Muslims’ in a derogatory way.
How about terming the skyscrappers of US and China thus?
It is a perversion to use derogatory words against Muslims and the achievements and shows how uncivilized certain people can be while showing themselves to be ‘Modern’.
These people will have double standards for everything and their ‘uncouth’ face would become visible in these tirades against ‘Muslim achievements’ everywhere.
Become ‘Civilized’ and be “Muslim friendly” rather than remaining in ‘Dark Middle Ages’.
April 26th, 2009 at 10:58 pm
dont u guys think that pumping concrete upwards is much harder than downwards … so it doesnt really matter how deep the thing is … you cant compare these structures to skyscrapers
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